Brine tank



March 9, 1943. J, LITHGOW trAL BRINE TANK Filed Aug. 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l @5572 Les! March 9, 1943.

J. LITHGOW ETAL B'RINE TANK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15. 1939 E E w F b JO/E/ fi WWWQZJ w Z & W Q

Patented Mar. 9, 1943 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE BRINE TANK .lohn Lithgow and Leslie K. Jackson, Cleveland,

Ohio, assignors to Sears, Roebuck and 00., Chicago, 51., a corporation of New York Application August 15, 1939,, Serial No. 290,316

16 Claims.

the sheet metal construction of the brine tank.'

Very often because of irregular bends, the sides of the groove and the brine tank were not in good heat exchange relation with the evaporator tubes. Prior art brine tank constructions also were not effective to clamp the ice tray supports in firm contact with the refrigeration tubes. This was quite important because if the ice tray support was not in good heat exchange relation with evaporator tubes, the ice cubes would not freeze properly during the refrigerating period.

One of the objects of our invention, therefore, is to provide a brine tank of sheet metal construction wherein supporting means are provided which serve to support the brine tank on evaporator tubes.

Another object of our invention is to provide supporting means for a brine tank which serve to promote good heat exchange relationship between the brine tank and an ice tray support.

A third object of our invention is to provide a supporting and clamping means for a brine tank which is efiective to clamp ice tray supports infirm heat exchange relationship with evaporator conduits.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a brine tank wherein the supporting means consists of laterally extending angles carried by the inner surface of the tank.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a plate-like member having a plurality of struck-out portions capable of forming supporting means for a brine tank.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in sec novel brine tank,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the brine tank partly broken away, 7

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the brine tank,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of-a supporting member, l

on of our Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified supporting member, and

Fig. 6 is a section taken on Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, abrine tank is indicated in general by the reference numeral Ill. The brine tank comprises a sheet metal outer wall member LI and asheet metal inner wall member l2 of tubular shape nested one within the other and butt-welded, as at I3, to form a liquid-tight enclosure for a suitable brine or holdover liquid. The outer sheet metal memthe line 5-9 of ber H is preferably formed of a single sheet of metal and is also longitudinally welded to the inner wall member [2, as indicated at M and l5. The inner wall member I2 is preferably formed from two similar halves lap-welded together longitudinally at l6 and H. The outer wall member H is reinforced by a series of annular ribs [8 formed integrally therein. The inner wall member [2 is preferably reinforced by a plurality of angles l9 welded thereto prior to the bending operation. These angles [9 prevent the brine tank from bulging and facilitate the easy assembly thereof with the evaporator tubes 20.

The brine tank is shown mounted on an evaporator unit having a plurality of vertically spaced tubes 20 of a general hairpin shape. The brine tank is provided with a plurality of supporting members, which are preferably welded to the innertwo opposed vertical walls of the inner wall member, andspaced to cooperate with the spaced evaporator tubes. The upper supporting members or angles which are indicated by reference numerals 2| preferably extend from one end to theother for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

The lower angles 22 extend only partially across the inner wall member. Additional lower angle members 23 are provided for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Positioned" on the evaporator tubes 20' and having overlapping portions carried by the tubes, between the angles 2| and the tubes are a plurality of ice tray supports indicated in general at 24. The ice ,tray supports are provided with a bent-down forward flange 25' adapted to limit the rearward" movement of the ice tray support, a bent-up flange 26 adapted to limit the rearward movement of the ice tray 21 carried by the support and a lanced-out portion 28 adapted to limit the. forward movement of the ice tray support.

The brine tank proper is providedwith arear cover member 29'" bolted as by bolts '30 to one flange of angular members 3| welded on the rear portion of the outer casing member A front cover 32 is also provided suitably hinged as at 33 to the outer wall member A plate 29a is also provided to close the opening in the rear cover necessarily provided for sliding the brine tank on the tubes. The rear cover 29 and the cover 32 form a substantially air-tight enclosure for the freezing compartment located within the brine tank. One of the bolts 30 also carries a bracket 34 which is suitably fastened to a fixed portion of the wall of the refrigeration space in which the brine tank and evaporator are located. The bracket 34 prevents the forward sliding movement of the brine tank on the evaporator tubes after assembly, and thus prevents damage thereof during shipment, etc. The brine tank is also provided with an inlet 35 which permits the charging of the brine tank with a suitable brine.

The particular arrangement of ice tray supports, evaporator conduits and brine tank sup ports or angles, such as at angles 2 is especially suitable for an intermittent absorption refrigeration system. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be noted that the angles 2| are relatively long and the angles 22 are short or fragmentary. Disregarding the direct contact between the conduits 20 and the inside vertical walls of the brine tank, it is apparent that the brine tank and the refrigeration conduits 20 are in heat exchange through the fragmentary angles 22 and through the ice tray supports and the angles 2|. During the refrigerating cycle, heat flows through both the angles 2| and the angles 22 from the brine tank to the conduits 20. Since this cycle is relatively long, however, the fragmentary nature of the angles 22 is not important since there is always sufficient heat exchange to cool the brine tank down to the required temperature. During the generating cycle, however, the conduits 20 are warmer than the ice trays and the brine tank. Heat then would end to flow from the conduits 20 to the ice tray supports 24 and to the brine tank through the angles 2| and 22. It is then desirable, during this relatively short period, that the heat flow from the conduits 20 to the brine tank be minimized. This effect is assisted by the fragmentary nature of the angles 22. Since the brine tank then will remain a relatively cold body during the generating period, the heat flowing into the ice tray supports from the conduits 20 .will be balanced by the heat flowing from the supports through the long angles 2| into the cold brine tank, and the ice trays stay cold enough to prevent melting of the ice therein. The only function of the angles 22, therefore, is to flex and exert a clamping action to insure good contact between the tubes 20, the ice tray supports 24, and the long angles 2|. The angles 23 are only provided in order to preventthe brine tank from tilting on the evaporator. The fragmentary angles 22 function as clamping members and serve to clamp the angles 2|, the ice tray support and the tubes 20 in firm heat exchange relationship.

In the modification disclosed in Fig. 4, a plate 36 is shown which is provided with a pair of bent-over portions 31 and 38 at its upper and lower edges, respectively. The plateis also provided with a plurality of intermediate struck-out portions 39, 40, 4|, 42, 43 and 44. The bentover portion 31 is adapted to cooperate with the upper surfaceof the uppermost ice tray support and the upper refrigeration conduit and the bent-over portion 38 is adapted to cooperate with the lowest surface of the lowest refrigeration conduit 20 to support the brine tank on the refrigeration conduits. In other words, the plate 36 is intended to be spotwelded to the vertical walls of the inner wall member l2, and, when so welded, fills all of the functions of the angles 2| and 22. The substitution of the plate member 36 for the plurality of welded angles insures the correct spacing of the supporting members.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the struckout portions 4|] and 4| are omitted and the brine tank is prevented from tilting by providing a long lower bent-over portion 38'. The remainder of the construction of the plate 36' is entirely similar to that disclosed in Fig. 4.

Various modifications and changes coming within the spirit of our invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and, hence,

we do not wish to be limited to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned except to the extent indicated in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

We claim:

1. In a refrigeration unit, a brine tank, means to support the brine tank including an ice tray support, and a refrigeration conduit supporting the ice tray support, and relatively thin means extending from and carried by the brine tank and cooperating with said conduit and support to maintain the brine tank in firm heat exchange relation with said conduit and said support.

2. In a refrigeration unit, a brine tank, means to support the brine tank including an ice tray support, and a refrigeration conduit supporting the ice tray support, and relatively thin means extending from and carried by the brine tank and cooperating with said conduit and support to maintain the brine tank in firm heat exchange relation with said conduit and said support, the

ice tray support and the refrigeration conduit having relatively large overlapping surfaces conforming in shape to one another so as to maintain a good heat exchange relationship, said last mentioned means and refrigeration conduit having relatively small overlapping surfaces to minimize heat exchange between the conduit and brine tank.

3.111 a refrigeration unit, a brine tank,

means to support the brinetank including a refrigeration conduit having a relatively flat upper surface, an ice tray support overlapping 'said surface and supporting means extending outwardly from the brine tank and overlapping said ice tray support, and means carried by the brine'tank and cooperating with said conduit and support to maintain the brine tank infirm heat exchange relation with said conduit and said support, said last mentioned means and refrigeration conduit having relatively small overlapping surfaces to minimize heat exchange between the conduit and the brine tank. 1

4;. In a refrigeration unit, refrigeration conduits having opposed portionsfllaterally spaced from each other, an ice tray support overlapping and supported at each edge by said opposed-portions, a brine tank, a plurality of 'opposed'means extending outwardly from said brine tankand overlapping and supported by theice traysupport at each side; thereof, and second means carried by said brine tank and cooperating with said conduits and support to maintain the brine tank in firm heat exchange relation with said conduits and said support, said last mentioned means and refrigeration conduits having relatively small overlapping surfaces to minimize heat exchange between the condu ts and brine tank.

5. In a refrigeration unit, an evaporator comprising a plurality of vertically spaced refrigerator conduits, a brine tank having an inner wall encircling the refrigerator conduits, and relatively thin angle members having one leg extending from an inner wall of said brine tank and another leg welded to the brine tank, said members being vertically spaced along the inner wall for alignment with the spaced refrigerator conduits to cooperate with the upper and lower surfaces of said refrigerator conduits to support said brine tank on the conduits and maintain the brine tank and conduits in heat-exchange relationship.

6. In a refrigeration unit, a plurality of vertically spaced laterally extending refrigeration conduits, a brine tank having an inner member encircling the said conduits, an ice tray support carried by said conduits, laterally extending members carried by the inner wall member of the brine tank and having a relatively large heat exchange surface overlapping the said ice tray support, and clamping members having a relatively small heat exchange surface carried by the inner wall of the brine tank in spaced relation to the first mentioned members and coperating with the first mentioned members, said conduits and said support to clamp the ice tray support to the refrigeration conduits.

7. In a refrigeration unit, a plurality of vertically spaced laterally extending refrigeration conduits, a brine tank having an inner member adapted to encircling the said conduits, an ice tray support carried by said conduits, laterally extending members carried by the inner wall member of the brine tank and. having a relatively large heat exchange surface overlapping the said ice tray support, clamping members carried by the inner wall of the brine tank in spaced relation to the first mentioned members and cooperating with the first mentioned members, said refrigeration conduits and ice tray support to clamp the ice tray support to the refrigeration conduits, and means carried by the inner wall of the brine tank and cooperating with the refrigeration conduits to prevent the tilting of the brine tank on the refrigeration conduits.

8. In a refrigeration unit, refrigeration conduits having opposed portions laterally spaced from each other, an ice tray support overlapping and supported by said opposed portions, a brine tank comprising spaced annular sheet metal members defining a brine container, angles carried by the inner metal member and each having one leg extending laterally therefrom cooperating with the ice tray support to support the brine tank thereon, and additional angular members spaced from the first mentioned angles carried by the inner sheet metal member and cooperating with said first mentioned angles, said refrigeration conduits and said ice tray support to clamp the ice tray support on the refrigeration conduits.

9. In a refrigeration unit, refrigeration conduits having opposed portions, an ice tray support overlapping and supported by said opposed portions, a brine tank having an inner wall,

plate-like means fastened to the inner wall of the brine tank, and a plurality of opposed means integral with said plate-like means and overlapping and supported by the ice tray support to thereby support the brine tank.

10. In a refrigeration unit, refrigeration conduits having opposed portions, an ice tray support overlapping and supported by sa d opposed portions, a brine tank having an inner wall, a plate-like member fastened to the inner wall of said brine tank having struck-out portions cooperating with the ice tray support and the refrigeration conduits to thereby support the brine tank.

11. In a refrigeration unit, vertically spaced refrigeration conduits, a brine tank, and means to support the brine tank on the refrigeration conduits comprising a plate-like member fastened to the inner wall of said brine tank and having a turned-over upper portion cooperating with the upper surface of the uppermost refrigeration conduit and a second turned-over portion cooperating with the lower surface of the lowest refrigeration conduit.

12. In a refrigeration unit, vertically spaced refrigeration conduits, a brine tank, means to support the brine tank on the refrigeration conduits comprising a plate-like member fastened to the inner wall of said brine tank and having a turned-over upper portion cooperating with the upper surface of the top refrigeration conduit and a second turned-over portion cooperating with the lower surface of the lowest refrigeration conduit, and intermediate struck-out portions cooperating with intermediate refrigeration tubes.

13. In a refrigeration unit, a brine tank havin inner walls, a plate-like member welded to one of the inner walls having a plurality of turnedover and struck-out portions forming a supporting means for said brine tank.

14. In a refrigeration unit, a brine tank including a tubular member surrounding a plurality of evaporator tubes, means carried by said tubular member adjacent the rear edges thereof for supporting a rear cover member, a rear cover member, and means to removably fasten the rear cover member to the supporting member.

15. In a refrigeration unit including evaporator tubes extending from a header, a brine tank of general tubular shape sliding over and. surrounding said evaporator tubes during assembly, a rear cover member fastened to said brine tank provided with an opening of a size and shape to accommodate said tubes and permit the assembly of the brine tank on the tubes, and an auxiliary cover member covering a portion of said opening to form a substantially airtight closure for the rear of the space within the tubular brine tank.

16. A refrigeration unit including a horizontally disposed evaporator tube, an ice tray support comprising a horizontally disposed flat plate-like member provided with a turned-up rear portion adapted to limit the rearward movement of an ice tray, a turned-down forward portion extending over said evaporator tube to limit the rearward movement of the support, and a struck-out portion spaced from the turned-down portion cooperating with the evaporator tube to limit the forward movement of the support.

JOHN LITI-IGOW. LESLIE K. JACKSON.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,515,o o. March 9, 19h;

JOHN LITHGOW, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification .of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, line 59, for "adapted to encircling" read -encircling-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the Same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this Lush day of May, A. D. 1915.

Henry Van Arsdale, (3 1) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

